Clay County Hospital’s RN Apprenticeship Program was the first U.S. Department of Labor Registered RN Apprenticeship Program in Illinois. The program was created to build a strong pipeline of nurses in our rural community by allowing students to earn while they learn through education, mentorship, tuition support, and hands-on experience.

Healthcare apprenticeships play a vital role in addressing workforce shortages by creating opportunities for local students to enter healthcare careers while helping rural hospitals recruit, develop, and retain highly skilled caregivers for the future.

Meet Victoria Woods, one of the two apprentices selected for the very first cohort of Clay County Hospital’s groundbreaking RN Apprenticeship Program. As a member of the first Registered Nurse Apprenticeship in Illinois, Victoria helped pave the way for future nursing apprentices across the state. Today, she serves as a registered nurse on Clay County Hospital’s Medical-Surgical Unit, providing compassionate care to patients in our community.